Malicious Code Vulnerability in alpha-booster Package on PyPI
Summary
MAL-2025-6431: Malicious code in alpha-booster (PyPI). Affects alpha-booster versions 1.0 – 1.3. No fix is published. How to fix ↓
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Background
The alpha-booster package is a Python library available on the Python Package Index (PyPI) that is designed to enhance machine learning models by providing various boosting algorithms. It is widely used in data science and machine learning projects for its ease of use and integration. However, recent findings have revealed that certain versions of this package contain malicious code that could compromise user systems.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified in the alpha-booster package stems from the inclusion of malicious code in versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3. This code can potentially allow unauthorized access to user data and execute harmful operations on the user's machine. The malicious code was discovered by ReversingLabs, highlighting the importance of scrutinizing third-party packages for security risks. Users of these affected versions are at risk of data breaches and system integrity issues.
How To Fix
This package is malicious. Remove it and rotate any credentials it could have accessed.
pip uninstall alpha-boosterIf it arrived as a transitive dependency, remove the package that pulled it in, then reinstall.
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Workaround
If immediate updating is not feasible, consider removing the alpha-booster package from your environment until a secure version is confirmed. You can do this by running: pip uninstall alpha-booster.
Conclusion
The alpha-booster package on PyPI has been found to contain malicious code in specific versions, posing significant risks to users. It is essential to update to a secure version or remove the package entirely to protect against potential threats. Utilizing tools like Vulert can help monitor for such vulnerabilities in real-time.
See every vulnerability recorded for alpha-booster →
FAQ
Versions 1.0, 1.1, 1.2, and 1.3 of the alpha-booster package are affected by the malicious code vulnerability.
You can use Vulert, which monitors and alerts for open-source vulnerabilities in real-time. Visit the Vulert playground at Vulert Scanner to check if your application is affected without requiring any signup.
If you have installed an affected version, it is crucial to update to the latest version of the alpha-booster package immediately or remove it from your environment.
The malicious code was discovered by ReversingLabs, a cybersecurity firm specializing in threat detection and analysis.
Using the affected versions can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, execution of harmful operations, and overall compromise of system integrity.
